Fated Souls by Becky Flade Read Free Book Online

Stevens herself. She wore the traditional pink uniform of a diner waitress, with a doily name pin proudly displayed on her ample and square neckline — Stella, it said, but Maggie wondered why it didn’t just say Ma. Her hair was teased into a white blond cloud around her face that belied the age and laugh lines that scored her overly made-up face. She ruled over the diner and her husband, the cook, known affectionately as Old Man Stevens, like a big, fat cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae. They were easily Maggie’s favorite two people in Trappers’ Cove.
    Maggie chose a booth when she normally sat at the counter because she wanted to sulk, and you couldn’t get a good sulk on if you were busy enjoying the local chatter and gossip delivered among the little nuggets of sage advice Ma served along with the pie. She finished her shake and was halfway through the extra large slice of pie when she sensed someone standing next to her. She slid the empty glass over. “Keep ‘em coming, Ma.”
    “I think you’re flagged.” Maggie had known it was Aidan, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging him. Without looking up from her dessert she threw his earlier words back at him.
    “Get away from me.” She scooped a big forkful of pie into her mouth and ignored him as he sat across from her.
    “You didn’t listen to me then, why shouldn’t I return the favor now? Hello, Mrs. Stevens, how are you?” As Aidan made polite but distant small talk with the waitress, Maggie let her eyes shift from her plate to his face. She knew she was behaving immaturely, but he’d hurt her feelings. She wondered if he felt badly enough to actually answer some of her questions. “I’ll have whatever our intrepid reporter here is enjoying.”
    Maggie watched his eyes return to hers as Ma briskly walked away with their order. “Did you know that I’ve lived in this town, or right outside it anyway, for more than ten years now and this is the first time I’ve eaten here rather than taking it to go?” he said.
    “No. I didn’t know that. You realize that’s only going to serve as further fuel for the gossip fire about to blaze a trail all over Trappers’ Cove.” Aidan’s mouth tilted upward, flirting with a smile.
    “Consider that my punishment then, if you will, Maggie, for earlier. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you. And I shouldn’t have treated you that way after.”
    “Well, at least you got the second part right.” His eyebrows lifted at her response. She scooped more pie into her mouth and arched a brow in imitation. He waited patiently for her to respond, which for some reason amused Maggie into elaborating. “In case you didn’t notice I liked the kissing part. In fact, for future reference, that was me liking it a whole lot.”
    This time Aidan did smile; it was the first time Maggie had seen him truly smile and it made his handsome face breathtaking. The only response she was capable of was an equally happy smile of her own. Ma quietly set the pie and two milkshakes down on their table and nearly ran to the kitchen, no doubt to call Alice Black.
    “Did you know her name isn’t Stella?” Aidan asked her as they both heard Ma scurry away.
    “No, I didn’t.” She watched as he slowly indulged in the pie, seeming to linger over each bite. Maggie’s cheeks flushed as she wondered if he did everything just as purposefully.
    “Mmm, hmm. Her name is Karen and Old Man’s is Mike. Would you like to hear the story behind the name tag?” Maggie nodded, sipping her milkshake trying to cool her libido. “The story goes that back when they were sweethearts working at the diner, he told her she looked just like Kim Hunter in the movie
Streetcar Named Desire
and one day when her shift started after his, she came into find he’d change her name tag to Stella. And she’s kept it that way ever since.”
    “That’s really sweet.” Aidan nodded and washed down another forkful of key lime with